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Carry On | A Book Review and more
3/25/2019
I've been thinking about writing about this blog for quite some time. But after this week's revelation (I'll talk about it later) I thought "okay...it's now or never". I got this book last year for my birthday and I committed a small sin: I read this before reading Fangirl. But let me tell you: it was worth it. Like really worth it!
So in case you don't know, Carry On is written by Rainbow Rowell (from Fangirl, Elanor & Park, Landline and she is also currently working on a comic book series with Marvel as well I believe!) and is a follow up book to Fangirl. In Fangirl we are introduced to the world of Simon Snow and Baz, where they appear as altered version of the Harry Potter series (I'll get back to that). After the success of her previous book, Rowell apparently couldn't let go of Simon Snow and ended up writing this marvellous book. (In case you are wondering how we know it, it is stated at the end of the book. At least in my version)
The summary, via goodreads is as it follows
Simon Snow just wants to relax and savour his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he'll be safe. Simon can't even enjoy the fact that his room-mate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can't stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you're the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savour anything.
Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.
Okay, before I start my breakdown on the book I have to say: I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did. Seriously, it was one of the best books I've read this year (probably only surpassed by Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses series) without much thought. And I am so HAPPY that Rowell will be launching another volume about Simon Snow at the end of this year. (It's meant to be launched in September...my birthday month!! I guess we all know what that means...)
The world building
One of the things I really expected was to see this world as wild version of the Harry Potter series. To my delight, it is not. The world of Mages has his own rules, pace and scenario. They work with technology and they do depend on people without magic to keep their magic well - that was really interesting in my opinion. I could see how Rowell wanted to created another fantastic world instead of just mirroring one that was already existing.
The character development
Simon needs love. I can't explain how I felt every time he or someone else would mention how his Summer was and thin he would appear at school - I wanted to punch the Mage at least 50 times because of that. Simon didn't had the same support system Harry had (no Weasley's here...). I felt like he was pushed into doing things he never wanted to - hi Penelope, looking at you.
Speaking of Penelope...I still don't know how I feel about her. She came across really pushy way to many times. There was a particular scene were she got angry because Simon did not tell her someone she did not need to know, since it wasn't really related to her but to Baz, ans I hated her reaction. I don't fully dislike her but....I don't like her either.
Baz was the revelation to be honest. Once his POV started to appear I wouldn't stop reading the book. From the end of chapter 32 I had to read the rest of the book due to my excitement.
Overall, I gave this book a 5 starts rating at goodreads and I can't wait to get the second volume with me (which I'll have to get as a hardcover, otherwise my OCD is going nuts...oops). It was a really fun reading and colides both contemporary YA with a bit of Fantasy YA.
What have you been reading lately?
"Oh Stars"
The Lunar Chronicles : Cinder
4/13/2017
Cinder is the first book of the very popular book series " The Lunar Chronicles" written by Marissa Meyer. Every book of this saga - with exception for Fairest and Stars Above - is names after one of the female main characters of the books. Cinder had been trending on Goodreads and Instagram for a while and it took a little until I finally gave up and decided to get the whole collection. This Christmas my mother offered me the whole saga and I have been reading it ever since.
These two babies are the crown jewel of what will become my comic collection. I usually read comic online but I am starting to put effort into getting physical versions - not only to help the comic industry and those who worked on the stories , but also because I like to collect things that I love. Collection comics is something that I like as much as collection Harry Potter Books (because I am collection more than one version...).
Before anything let me tell you this : I love both Marvel and DC Comics. I am not part of any type of war like " who's better" or "who's cooler". I love characters from both Universes for different reasons. So no wars around here please?
Before anything let me tell you this : I love both Marvel and DC Comics. I am not part of any type of war like " who's better" or "who's cooler". I love characters from both Universes for different reasons. So no wars around here please?
The Cuckoo's Calling | Book Review
2/07/2014
(imagem from here)
Yup, another book review. I've been thinking and, I'll try to review a book every month. I already have a list of the books I've been reading during this year. I do an overview of that list by the end of the year. Let's how healthy my reading habits will be.
The Cuckoo's Calling is a book written by Robert Galbraith. Or should I say, J.K.Rowling, writing user a pseudonym. When I heard that she had launch another book, I was ecstatic.Specially considering that this was a Detective's kinda book - my favourite, right next to Fantasy and Fantastic literature.I love mystery and crime solving stories - my favourite TV series are Cold Case and Law & Order. And CSI of course.
Now, back to the book. I thought about getting the book in English because I didn't know when it would be available in Portugal.When I went to Caldas da Rainha I found out that the book was already available in Portuguese. Because I really love this series, I decided to invest on the translated version - just like I did with The Casual Vacancy. Although I have to admit that I'll be investing more on English version, since they are cheaper - I found out this weekend that a kit with the first 3 books of mortal instruments costs 21 euros...that's the price of 1 book here! Anyway, here the sinopese (take from here )
The Cuckoo's Calling is a book written by Robert Galbraith. Or should I say, J.K.Rowling, writing user a pseudonym. When I heard that she had launch another book, I was ecstatic.Specially considering that this was a Detective's kinda book - my favourite, right next to Fantasy and Fantastic literature.I love mystery and crime solving stories - my favourite TV series are Cold Case and Law & Order. And CSI of course.
Now, back to the book. I thought about getting the book in English because I didn't know when it would be available in Portugal.When I went to Caldas da Rainha I found out that the book was already available in Portuguese. Because I really love this series, I decided to invest on the translated version - just like I did with The Casual Vacancy. Although I have to admit that I'll be investing more on English version, since they are cheaper - I found out this weekend that a kit with the first 3 books of mortal instruments costs 21 euros...that's the price of 1 book here! Anyway, here the sinopese (take from here )
When a troubled model falls to her death from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts, and calls in private investigator Cormoran Strike to look into the case. A war veteran, wounded both physically and psychologically, Strike's life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline, but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model's complex world, the darker things get - and the closer he gets to terrible danger ...A gripping, elegant mystery steeped in the atmosphere of London - from the hushed streets of Mayfair, to the backstreet pubs of the East End, to the bustle of Soho - The Cuckoo's Calling is a remarkable debut. Introducing Cormoran Strike, it is a classic crime novel unlike any other book you will read this year.I had an amazing time reading this book. It's funny, it's elegant, well put together. I'll try not to tell any spoilers (I don't want to be accused of spoiling any one's reading time).
The plot ir really good, but what makes him more enjoyable is it's characters. Yes ladies and gentleman, J.K.Rowling did it again. Cormoran Strike is a really amazing character. He has a really hard life - he always had a hard life - but doesn't let that stop him from fighting and doing what's the best. This cases turns quite personal in some details - I wonder how he will cope with them after this book - at although he always can keep it to himself and conceal it ( yes I'm listening to Let it Go too much this days...Now you guys now), there is one time where he just can't keep it in and says what he shouldn't (it's not that serious by the way, don't get the wrong idea). Another thing I like is how his life a problems aren't the centre of the book. We get to know him throw the entire book. It's not like BAM - here he is.
But the story doesn't just have Strike. There are plenty of other character that make this book interesting - like his secretary Robin. Robin wasn't tailed to this job, but quickly learns how deal with it. She becames his lucky charm. I dare to say, she becames his Hermione. And no, there isn't anything romantic about it. After Strike, she is for sure my favourite Character.
There are more characters I could mention. Like Lula Landry, Tansy Bestigui and many other characters that have flaws and qualities. But there is a thing that Jo didn't lost here - the act of making of those who believe that they are above others just because they have more money or some kind of status. If you though that she made fun of the middle-class in The Casual Vacancy, be careful with this one - because now we are talking about the upper-class and jokes can be even more deadly and bitter.We aren't talking about metaphors, he are talking about direct problems an accusations.
I really enjoyed reading this book. For what I know, she will be launching another one about Strike this year. I can't wait to read it. I really recommend this to any one who loves Mystery and Detective Literature.
I want to finish this review saying that if Strike happen to be Harry's class matte along with Hermione and Ron, his life (Harry's life) and path would be a lot easier. I can image how he would play Snape during potion lessons and how Voldemort how felt hopeless with someone like that.
Have you read The Cuckoo's Calling? What your thought on it?
Take care, have a nice day!*
With Love,
Diana
The Casual Vacancy | Book Review
1/08/2014
Many might be like "a book review? really?"
Yes, I love to read. During Christmas time, where I totally left the computer and my cellphone aside, reading was my company. I finally got time (and will power) to finish this amazing book. I'm not sure why it took so much...
A Casual Vacancy is the first book for adults ( not like 50 Shades of Grey or anything like that!)written by J.K.Rowling - the amazing writer of the Harry Potter series and recently the writer of The Cuckoo's Calling (under a pseudonym ).
This wasn't a really loved book. First, I think that people where still very attach to the Potter writing, where she would be very careful with language and graphic scenes (it's a book for children after all!). Here we see the really strong language (not in everything sentence! but some characters get to swear more than other. and their swearing isn't a "bloody-something" like Ron Weasley).They were also really attached to magic and strange events. Here, there is no such thing.
This wasn't a really loved book. First, I think that people where still very attach to the Potter writing, where she would be very careful with language and graphic scenes (it's a book for children after all!). Here we see the really strong language (not in everything sentence! but some characters get to swear more than other. and their swearing isn't a "bloody-something" like Ron Weasley).They were also really attached to magic and strange events. Here, there is no such thing.
Now the deep problem is the heavy truth that this book has. The book talks about a small town called Pagford and how a group of people want to remove Fields (a social neighbourhood, with many economical and social problems) from their responsibility. They look to those people as if they are worthless and are not worthy of anything. But J.K.Rowling shows more than what we know and see. For instance, let's not forget that she lived under Governmental assistance when went back from Portugal after leaving her husband , so she knows this reality quite well. She knows how hard it can be. She shows the struggles from both sides - everyone has problems, no matte how much money you have on your bank account- but she also does something else.
She doesn't just show some problems that high middle-class households have. She actually jokes about some of them (I think that's one of the main reasons for some people not liking this book, it kinda shows them the harsh truth about themselves). She wants to compare the problems and addictions that the poorest and the richest have. There is actually a really magnificent part where one of the characters actually talks about it (actually it's not real talking, but that just a "small" detail).
Now, Character wise, she nailed it again. They are quite complex, they aren't 100% good or 100% bad. Others are so mean that could even compete with Dolores Umbridge (there is one of them that actually, should have a ending like hers... actually, being dragged and beaten up by centaurs would be too good for that character). We can feel their problems, we feel sorry for them, we get angry with them and sometimes we get really relived because they get to learn something. Sometimes we get sad because we knew how good their intentions where, but how they got cut because of other persons choices. It's not easy. Also, we get to know the same character from different point of views. Everyone has an opinion, and believe me, they are all pretty different.
Also, some people didn't loved the ending, because it was quite "opened" and felt that it had a void. I think that she actually made that on purpose. Like, we are the ones who should close the void in real life by helping some of this people and not being so judgemental, when we ourselves have deep problems. I also saw some complains about how the book "speed up" in the end. But, that just like live. Some days everything is slow like if the time doesn't pass by. But when something has to happen, it's with full speed. I think she wanted to hit the reader with what was happening. Like "here take it! It's done and you can't do anything about it".
Still, I heavily recommend this book. It's really nice to see Jo doing and working on something new. Let's face it : it wasn't because she needed it, It was because she wanted it. And I can't wait to start reading The Cuckoo's Calling as well. (She trolled us with that one seriously...I would never guess it was written by her!)
I'll try to bring more book reviews and thought about books during this year.
Have read Casual Vacancy? What's your thought about it?
I'm currently re-reading The fifth book of the Harry Potter series and I'm working on finishing a more "political" and cultural book.
Anyway, take care and have a nice day!*
With Love.
Diana.
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